The War of 1812 Magazine
Issue 1: January 2006
War of 1812 Notes and Queries
The editors of the War of 1812 Magazine invite queries but
please note that we cannot answer questions relating to genealogy. Those
interested in such matters are directed to the many websites that specialize
in this type of research.
1001. Canadian Voltigeurs
In some recent reading that I have been doing about the War of 1812,
I have run across references to a British unit called the Canadian Voltigeurs.
Are these the same as the French army voltigeurs and do you have any
details about their uniforms and equipment?
Desmond Roman
Reply:
The Canadian Voltigeurs or, more properly, the Provincial Corps
of Light Infantry, were raised in Lower Canada (the modern day province
of Quebec, Canada) in early 1812. Although not part of the regular establishment
of the British army, this unit was a regular unit in all but name although
it was paid by the government of Lower Canada, not Britain. Command
of the Canadian Voltigeurs was given to Major Charles de Salaberry,
a serving officer in the 60th Foot, and a longtime protege of Major-General
Francis De Rottenburg, one of the leading early pioneers of rifle/light
infantry tactics in the British army. De Salaberry chose his officers
from among the best militia officers in the province.
The Canadian Voltigeurs saw considerable action during the war but
their most noteworthy engagement was at Chateauguay on 25 October 1813
when they formed part of a force under de Salaberry's command which
defeated a much stronger American army under the command of Major-General
Wade Hampton which had invaded Canada with the intention of taking Montreal.
The Canadian Voltigeurs were disbanded in 1815.
The Canadian Voltigeurs had a very distinctive uniform. Enlisted
personnel were issued with grey wool jackets and trousers, complete
with wings trimmed in black and a "Light Bearskin Cap" which
appears to have been something like a fusilier's bearskin cap. This
was later replaced the stovepipe shako. Belts were black and not buff.
The officers wore green uniforms very similar to those of the 95th Foot
(Rifles).
Information on the uniforms and service of the Canadian Voltigeurs
can be found in the following sources: René Chartrand and Jack Summers,
Military Uniforms in Canada (Ottawa, 1981); René Chartrand, Canadian
Military Heritage, volume 2 (Ottawa, 1993); and René Chartrand,
British Forces in North America 1793-1815 (MAA 319). Interesting
details on the conditions of service of the Voltigeurs and the battle
of Chateauguay will be found in Michelle Guitard, The Militia of
the Battle of Chateauguay. A Social History (Ottawa, 1983). The
most recent and best source on the battle itself is D.E. Graves, Field
of Glory (Toronto, 1999).
JG
1002. Organization of American Infantry Regiments
in the War of 1812
I am somewhat confused about the organization of American infantry
regiments during the War of 1812. I keep encountering references to
battalions as part of regiments but then other references seem to indicate
that the Americans used the term battalion and regiment for the same
thing. Can you clarify this problem?
Jack Copp
Reply
Why don't you ask an easy question? The source of your confusion
probably relates to the authorized organization of American infantry
regiments during the first year of the war. The prewar infantry component
of the U.S. army (regiments numbered 1 through 7) were organized as
individual regiments with no battalion structure. In 1812 Congress authorized
the raising of 18 new regiments of infantry (numbered 8 through 25)
on a new establishment of two battalions per regiment. Difficulties
were encountered in recruiting and the different establishments of infantry
regiments also created other problems which caused Congress in late
1812 to make infantry organization uniform throughout the army and the
battalion structure was ended. Some regiments of the 1812 "wave,"
however, did succeed in raising two battalions and, as late as the autumn
of 1813, still retained the two-battalion structure. That is the easy
answer to your question, please don't ask for the difficult responser.
DEG
1003. Who Won the War of 1812?
I would like to know who won this war as both the Canadians and the
Americans claim victory.
Leslie Baril
Reply
First, Canadians really have no claim to have won the war as the
modern nation of Canada did not exist in 1812. What is now known as
Canada was at that time a collection of individual British colonies,
generally and collectively known as British North America. When Canadians
say they won the war, they really mean that Britain won.
However, that being said, it does not answer your question and,
frankly, it is an almost impossible question to answer as either way
you slice it, there will be outcries of horror from the different sides
of the border. I shall therefore evade the issue and simply quote the
wise Charles P. Stacey, a Canadian historian, on the subject:
The War of 1812 is one of those episodes in history that make everybody
happy, because everybody interprets in his own way. The Americans
think of it primarily as a naval war in which the pride of the Mistress
of the Seas was humbled by what an imprudent Englishman had called
"a few fir-built frigates manned by a handful of bastards and
outlaws." Canadians think of it equally pridefully as a war of
defence in which their brave fathers ... saved the country from conquest.
And the English are the happiest of all because they don't even know
it existed.
DEG
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